Systems and methods for aerosol delivery of agents
First Claim
1. A system for administering an agent, comprising:
- a housing;
an air source operable to provide positive pressure air;
a nebulizer operable for receiving an agent from a vial coupled to the housing and converting the agent into an aerosolized agent;
a mixing chamber to receive the aerosolized agent from the nebulizer and air from the air source;
a release mechanism operable for releasing a quantity of the agent from the vial to the nebulizer, wherein the agent is converted into an aerosolized agent that is mixed with air from the air source in the mixing chamber;
a prong with an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is operable to receive the aerosolized agent and air mixture from the mixing chamber, and the outlet is operable to deliver the aerosolized agent and air mixture to a patient when the prong is inserted into a patient'"'"'s orifice;
an anti-backflow valve between the mixing chamber and the prong outlet, operable to permit flow from the mixing chamber to the prong, and to inhibit flow in a reverse direction; and
a cooling chamber connected to the housing, the cooling chamber being adapted to receive the vial and being operable to maintain the agent at a selected temperature.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Aerosol delivery systems and methods for delivering an agent to a patient are described herein. The present invention includes embodiments comprising an insulated receptacle connected to a body to hold a vial of an agent to be delivered to a patient. The vial is located in an inverted position within the receptacle and connected to the housing. One or more reusable thermal packs can be located on the inner sides of the receptacle, to maintain a selected temperature surrounding the vial. The agent is administered to a patient by placing a prong into one of the patient'"'"'s orifices and then activating an aerosol delivery system. Such systems comprise jet aerosolization and pneumatic and ultrasonic nebulizers and preferably are portable.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A system for administering an agent, comprising:
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a housing; an air source operable to provide positive pressure air; a nebulizer operable for receiving an agent from a vial coupled to the housing and converting the agent into an aerosolized agent; a mixing chamber to receive the aerosolized agent from the nebulizer and air from the air source; a release mechanism operable for releasing a quantity of the agent from the vial to the nebulizer, wherein the agent is converted into an aerosolized agent that is mixed with air from the air source in the mixing chamber; a prong with an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is operable to receive the aerosolized agent and air mixture from the mixing chamber, and the outlet is operable to deliver the aerosolized agent and air mixture to a patient when the prong is inserted into a patient'"'"'s orifice; an anti-backflow valve between the mixing chamber and the prong outlet, operable to permit flow from the mixing chamber to the prong, and to inhibit flow in a reverse direction; and a cooling chamber connected to the housing, the cooling chamber being adapted to receive the vial and being operable to maintain the agent at a selected temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for administering an agent, comprising:
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a housing an air source operable to provide positive pressure air; a nebulizer operable for receiving an agent from a vial coupled to the housing and converting the agent into an aerosolized agent; a mixing chamber to receive the aerosolized agent from the nebulizer and air from the air source; a release mechanism operable for releasing a quantity of the agent from the vial to the nebulizer, wherein the agent is converted into an aerosolized agent that is mixed with air from the air source in the mixing chamber; a prong with an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is operable to receive the aerosolized agent and air mixture from the mixing chamber, and the outlet is operable to deliver the aerosolized agent and air mixture to a patient when the prong is inserted into a patient'"'"'s orifice; and an anti-backflow valve between the mixing chamber and the prong outlet, operable to permit flow from the mixing chamber to the prong, and to inhibit flow in a reverse direction; wherein said nebulizer comprises an element having a plurality of openings extending therethrough through which agent is distributed upon actuation of the nebulizer to produce droplets of agent in a size range of from 4 to 10 microns; wherein said nebulizer comprises a pair of spaced apart plate members defining a liquid-receiving chamber therebetween adapted to receive a quantity of agent from the vial, one of said members having a plurality of orifices extending therethrough through which liquid may be forced from the chamber to produce droplets of agent, and the system further comprises actuating mechanism operable to reciprocate at least one of said members toward the other in a compression actuation to force liquid from said chamber through said orifices. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification